Meet our team

Ben Bechle, LPC, CSAC, NCC

Owner & Psychotherapist

Ben Bechle is a dedicated and compassionate therapist specializing in person-centered therapy for individuals, couples, and families. His journey into the therapeutic world has been fueled by a deep-seated passion for helping others navigate the complexities of life and relationships. Ben brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his practice, having worked with diverse populations facing a wide range of challenges. His educational background includes advanced training in person-centered therapy, which has equipped him with the skills and insights necessary to support his clients effectively. Additionally, Ben is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), while integrating a few of his favorite interventions informed by other approaches to best serve the client. Ben is also pursuing certification in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). 

If you’re ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth, Ben would be honored to work with you. Whether you’re an individual seeking to better understand yourself, or a couple aiming to strengthen your relationship, Ben is here to provide the support and guidance you need.

Ben's progress toward AAT certification:

Introduction to Animal Assisted Therapy - Complete!

Standards of Animal Assisted Therapy Practice - Complete!

Animal Assisted Therapy Applied Practice - Complete!

Animal Assisted Therapy Capstone - Upcoming

Hamish

Therapy Dog In Training

As a therapy dog in training, Hamish is trained to provide comfort, emotional support, and companionship to individuals in settings such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and therapy sessions. Hamish puts his training and skills to use to help improve emotional well-being through gentle interaction and affection.

 

Hamish's progress toward certification:

Fundamentals (Level 1) - Complete!

Advanced (Level 2) - Complete!

AKC Canine Good Citizen - In Progress

Therapy Dog Certification - Upcoming

Theoretical Approach & Modalities

My approach to therapy is grounded in person-centered and psychoanalytic perspectives. I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role isn’t to judge or tell you what to do, but to listen closely, understand your experience, and create a space where you feel safe to explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace.

You can expect empathy, support, and honesty. Over time, as trust builds, the goal is for you to feel more comfortable opening up, gaining insight, and finding your own answers. Together, we work toward the changes you want to make and support your growth in a way that feels right for you.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is about helping you live a life that’s meaningful to you, even when you’re facing tough thoughts, feelings, or situations. It’s not about trying to "get rid of" painful emotions or thoughts, but learning how to respond to them in a healthier way, so they don’t control your life. ACT is focused on two areas: 

  1. How to accept what you can’t control (like anxiety, grief, or fear)

  2. How to commit to actions that move you toward your values—the things that truly matter to you

To accomplish this, we will work on the following: 

  • Mindfulness – learning to notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them

  • Defusion – stepping back from unhelpful thoughts instead of getting caught in them

  • Acceptance – making space for difficult emotions instead of fighting them

  • Values – getting clear on what truly matters to you

  • Committed action – taking small, meaningful steps even in the face of fear or discomfort

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a gentle, supportive approach to psychotherapy that includes working with a trained therapy animal as part of your sessions. The presence of a calm, friendly animal can help you feel more at ease, making it easier to open up, express emotions, and build trust in the therapeutic process. Many people find that interacting with an animal reduces stress and anxiety while creating a sense of comfort and safety, which can be especially helpful when working through difficult experiences. By combining traditional talk therapy with the natural connection between humans and animals, this approach offers a warm, engaging environment that supports emotional healing and personal growth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a type of therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. Sometimes, the way we think about things can make us feel worse or lead to unhelpful habits. CBT helps you recognize those patterns and learn more balanced ways of thinking and coping. The goal is to help you feel better and deal with challenges more effectively.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, is a type of therapy that helps you manage intense emotions, improve your relationships, and cope with stress in healthier ways. It teaches you specific skills to handle things like anger, anxiety, impulsive behavior, or feeling overwhelmed. At the same time, it also focuses on accepting yourself as you are. We’ll work on building real-life skills in four areas:

  1. Mindfulness – learning to stay present and aware without judgment

  2. Distress Tolerance – getting through tough moments without making things worse

  3. Emotion Regulation – understanding and managing intense feelings

  4. Interpersonal Effectiveness – handling relationships and communication in healthy ways

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)

Emotionally Focused Therapy, or EFT, is a type of couples counseling that helps you and your partner understand the deeper emotional patterns in your relationship. It’s not just about solving surface-level problems; it’s about helping you both feel more secure, understood, and connected emotionally. The goal of EFT is to help you move from conflict or distance to a place where you both feel emotionally safe, supported, and more connected, like you’re truly on the same team.

Every relationship has the potential to get stuck in negative cycles, like arguments that repeat or feeling distant from each other. In EFT, we work together to:

  • Identify those patterns,

  • Understand the emotions underneath them (like fear, hurt, or loneliness), and

  • Create new ways of responding to each other that build closeness and trust.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)

EMDR is a therapy that helps people heal from difficult or traumatic experiences. Sometimes when something really upsetting happens, our brain doesn’t fully process it, it gets stuck. EMDR helps ‘unstick’ those memories so they don’t keep affecting you the same way.

During EMDR, we’ll focus on a memory while using something called bilateral stimulation, examples include moving your eyes side to side, tapping, or listening to sounds that alternate between the left and right ears, such as tones or music. This helps your brain reprocess the memory in a way that feels less upsetting and more resolved.

Gender Affirming Care

Gender affirming care is a supportive psychotherapy service designed to help you explore and understand your gender identity in a safe, respectful, and affirming environment. In our work together, we will assess your goals, identify your unique needs, and support your emotional well-being throughout your journey. This may include developing coping strategies, navigating life transitions, and addressing any concerns that arise along the way. When appropriate, we also provide letters of readiness for gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone replacement therapy, top surgery, and bottom surgery, in alignment with established clinical guidelines. Our goal is to support you in making informed, confident decisions that reflect your identity and promote your overall well-being.